PUBLIC WORKSHOP Avista Utilities Rate Case No AVUE21
PUBLIC WORKSHOP Avista Utilities Rate Case No. AVU-E-21 -01 & AVU-G-21 -01 IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION June 16, 2021 1
Introduction Travis Culbertson – Senior Auditor Chris Hecht – Utilities Compliance Investigator Michael Eldred – Utilities Analyst John Hammond Jr. – Deputy Attorney General Adam Rush – Public Information Officer 2
Workshop Participation � Online: � To open chat in Web. Ex, please select the icon. � Type questions and comments in the chat box; � Please use the “all panelists” option when using chat to ensure your message will be seen. � To speak, click on the hand in the lower right corner by your name. � On the phone: � *3 is the command to raise and lower your hand; � When your line has been un-muted, you will hear an announcement indicating that. This Power. Point is available on the commission’s homepage at puc. idaho. gov. *This workshop is being recorded* 3
Purpose of Public Workshop Informational session to learn about the case • Review Avista Utilities Application. • Review Proposed Settlement between Parties. • Provide customers an opportunity to meet Commission Staff. • Ask questions and submit written public comments. This Public Workshop is not part of the official case record. 4
Purpose of Customer Hearing • Provide customers an opportunity to speak to Commissioners and provide testimony. • Commissioners will not answer questions. • Staff encourages you to attend the Customer Hearing. • Wednesday, July 14 at 6 p. m. PDT. The Customer Hearing is part of the official case record. 5
What is the Idaho Public Utilities Commission? • Established in 1913. Idaho Code Sections 61, 62, and 63. • The Commission regulates Idaho's investor-owned utilities, ensuring adequate service and reasonable rates. • The Commission is made up of three commissioners appointed by the Governor. The Commissioners make the decisions in each case. • Commission Staff is made up of Auditors, Consumer Advocates, Engineers & Technical Analysts. • The Staff is conducting this workshop. Staff is one of the parties in the rate case providing comments to the Commissioners. 6
Why can't the Commission just tell them no? Customers may want the Commission to reject Avista’s request to raise rates, but state law requires that the Commission: • Consider the evidence that is on the record, which includes the Company’s Application, comments from Staff, comments from Intervenors’, and customers' written comments or oral testimony at customer hearings. • Meet the statutory public interest standard that ensures customers have adequate, safe, and reliable service at just and reasonable rates. Important Points to Consider: • It is not in the public interest to have a utility that cannot adequately serve all the customers in its assigned territory now and in the future. • All Commission decisions must withstand Idaho Supreme Court appeals from either a utility or a customer group. 7
Why can't utilities cut costs just like any other business? Regulated utilities are not like any other business. They are assigned service territories and must serve every customer. What they charge customers is determined by state regulators. In exchange for their guarantee to provide adequate, safe, and reliable service, the state must provide utilities the opportunity to: • Recover prudently incurred expenses necessary to serve customers, and; • Earn a reasonable rate of return on their investment. 8
Avista Utilities Application 9
Application Filed January 29, 2021 Two-year rate increase • Year 1 effective September 1, 2021 and; • Year 2 effective September 1, 2022. • For both Gas and Electric customers. 10
Application Electric Increase • Year 1 – increase in revenues of $24. 8 million or 10. 1%. • Year 2 – increase in revenues of $8. 7 million or 3. 2%. • Apply Tax Customer Credit Tariff Schedule 76 • This would offset Year 1 increase and roll over into Year 2. 11
Application Natural Gas Increase • Year 1 – increase in revenues of $0. 1 million or 0. 1%. • Year 2 – increase in revenues of $1. 0 million or 2. 2%. • Apply Tax Customer Credit Tariff Schedule 176 • Amortize remaining amount over 10 years. 12
Rate Case Drivers �Since last rate case: �Plant investments �Wildfire Mitigation �Transmission and Distribution �Electric Power Supply �Rattlesnake Flats Wind Farm 13
Rate Case Drivers, cont. �Operating Expense increases. �Distribution, Operation and Maintenance Expenses. �Administration and General Expenses. �Adjustments: �Salaries. 14
Rate Proposal 15
Company Proposed Electric Billed Revenue Effect by Class Rate Schedule – Year 1 Residential – Sch. 1 General Service – Sch. 11 & 12 Large General Service – Sch. 21 & 22 Extra Large General Service – Sch. 25 P Pumping Service – Sch. 31 & 32 Street & Area Lights – Sch. 41 -49 Total Billed 10. 0% 9. 7 9. 8% Offset Final -10. 0% -9. 7 0. 0 -9. 8% 0. 0% 16
Company Proposed Electric Billed Revenue Effect by Class Rate Schedule – Year 2 Residential – Sch. 1 General Service – Sch. 11 & 12 Large General Service – Sch. 21 & 22 Extra Large General Service – Sch. 25 P Pumping Service – Sch. 31 & 32 Street & Area Lights – Sch. 41 -49 Total Billed 3. 9% 3. 4 1. 3 3. 4 3. 5% Offset 0. 0% 0. 0 0. 0% Final 3. 9% 3. 4 1. 3 3. 4 3. 5% 17
Company Proposal - Schedule 1 Residential Billed Electric Rates Based on Average use of 892 k. Wh Current Bill Year 1 Year 2 Basic Charge $6. 00 $8. 00 Monthly Rate $79. 63 $81. 89 Total $85. 63 $89. 89 18
Company Proposed Natural Gas Billed Revenue Effect by Class Rate Schedule – Year 1 Base Offset Billed Residential – Sch. 101 Large General Service – Sch. 111 & 112 Transportation Service – Sch. 146 Total 0. 1% 0. 1% -2. 0% -1. 6 -2. 8 -1. 9% -1. 5 -2. 7 -1. 8% 19
Company Proposed Incremental Natural Gas Billed Revenue Effect by Class Rate Schedule – Year 2 Base Billed Residential – Sch. 101 Large General Service – Sch. 111 & 112 Transportation Service – Sch. 146 Total 0. 1% 0. 1 0. 2 0. 1% Note: Tax Benefit offset is ongoing and not an incremental change to rates. 20
Company Proposal - Schedule 101 Residential Gas Rates Based on Average use of 63 Therms Current Bill Year 1 Year 2 Basic Charge $6. 00 $8. 00 Monthly Rate $43. 49 $42. 54 $40. 59 Total $49. 49 $48. 54 $48. 59 21
Proposed Settlement 22
Proposed Electric Settlement �Signed and Filed with Commission: �June 14, 2021 �Rates effective September 1, 2021 �Components: �Electric � Two Year Revenue Increase of $18. 6 Million � Year 1 – Effective 9/1/2021 � Year 2 – Effective 9/1/2022 � Tax Customer Credits applied to Year 1 and Year 2 7. 4% 4. 3% 3. 1% 23
Proposed Settlement Electric Billed Revenue Effect by Class Rate Schedule – Year 1 Residential – Sch. 1 General Service – Sch. 11 & 12 Large General Service – Sch. 21 & 22 Extra Large General Service – Sch. 25 P Pumping Service – Sch. 31 & 32 Street & Area Lights – Sch. 41 -49 Total Base 4. 9% 4. 1 4. 2 1. 1 4. 2% Offset -4. 3% -4. 1 -4. 2% Billed 0. 6% 0. 0 -3. 1 0. 0% 24
Proposed Settlement Electric Billed Revenue Effect by Class Rate Schedule – Year 2 Residential – Sch. 1 General Service – Sch. 11 & 12 Large General Service – Sch. 21 & 22 Extra Large General Service – Sch. 25 P Pumping Service – Sch. 31 & 32 Street & Area Lights – Sch. 41 -49 Total Base 4. 4% 0. 8 3. 1 3. 2% Offset -4. 1% -3. 3 -3. 9 -5. 3 -4. 0% Billed 0. 3% -2. 5 -0. 8 -2. 2 -3. 2 -0. 8% 25
Proposed Settlement Schedule 1 Residential Billed Electric Rates Based on Average use of 892 k. Wh Current Bill Year 1 Year 2 Basic Charge $6. 00 $7. 00 Monthly Rate $79. 63 $80. 12 $79. 43 Total $85. 63 $86. 12 $86. 43 26
Proposed Natural Gas Settlement �Signed and Filed with Commission: �June 14, 2021 �Rates effective September 1, 2021 �Components: �Natural Gas � Two Year Revenue Decrease of $0. 7 Million � Year 1 – Effective 9/1/2021 � Year 2 – Effective 9/1/2022 � Tax Customer Credits amortized over 10 years. -1. 5% -3. 7% 2. 2% 27
Proposed Settlement Natural Gas Billed Revenue Effect by Class Rate Schedule – Year 1 Base Offset Billed Residential – Sch. 101 Large General Service – Sch. 111 & 112 Transportation Service – Sch. 146 Total -2. 6% -2. 1 -3. 7 -2. 5% -2. 0 -1. 6 -2. 8 -2. 0% -4. 6% -3. 7 -6. 5 -4. 5% 28
Proposed Settlement Natural Gas Billed Revenue Effect by Class Rate Schedule – Year 2 Base Billed Residential – Sch. 101 Large General Service – Sch. 111 & 112 Transportation Service – Sch. 146 Total 1. 6% 1. 3 2. 3 1. 5% 29
Proposed Settlement Schedule 101 Residential Natural Gas Rates Based on Average use of 63 Therms Current Bill Year 1 Year 2 Basic Charge $6. 00 $7. 00 Monthly Rate $43. 49 $41. 19 $40. 95 Total $49. 49 $47. 19 $47. 95 30
Consumer Assistance Chris Hecht Utilities Compliance Investigator 31
Consumer Assistance • Utilities Compliance Investigators assist customers to resolve issues and or disputes with the Company. • Investigators monitor compliance with laws, commission rules, and the Company tariff. • In a rate case, investigators review issues from previous cases, review previous complaints, investigate consumer issues raised in the case, and review submitted comments from customers. 32
To comment on the case • Customer comments are due August 3, 2021 • Email comments to: secretary@puc. idaho. gov • Written comments can be filed electronically via the Commission website at: puc. idaho. gov Look for the “Case Comment Form” link on the home page. • Reference case number AVU-E-21 -01 or AVU-G-21 -01 • Attend the Customer Hearing on July 14, 2021 • Reminder – comments only, no questions. • Once submitted – comments become public record. 33
Idaho Public Utilities Homepage 34
Comments Webpage 35
Schedule Event Date Case Filed January 29, 2021 Proposed Settlement Filed June 14, 2021 Public Workshop Today (June 16) Customer Hearing July 14 @ 6: 00 pm PDT Prefile Testimony July 19, 2021 Customer Comments August 3, 2021 Technical Hearing August 2 & 3, 2021 Close of Case Final Order Proposed Effective Date September 1, 2021 36
Telephonic Customer Hearing July 14, 2021 @ 6: 00 pm PDT Call in: 1 -415 -655 -0001 Code: 133 481 5766 37
QUESTIONS? You can find case information and file comments on the PUC website: puc. idaho. gov Case Number: AVU-E-21 -01 & AVU-G-21 -01 38
Workshop Participation � Online: � To open chat in Web. Ex, please select the icon. � Type questions and comments in the chat box; � Please use the “all panelists” option when using chat to ensure your message will be seen. � To speak, click on the hand in the lower right corner by your name. � On the phone: � *3 is the command to raise and lower your hand; � When your line has been un-muted, you will hear an announcement indicating that. This Power. Point is available on the commission’s homepage at puc. idaho. gov. *This workshop is being recorded* 39
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